Bethlehem · Manger Square · Palestine

Church of the Nativity

churchByzantinepilgrimagegoogle verified

easy

9/10

best: morning, afternoon

spiritual, ancient, humbling

A local would say...

The entrance is so low that everyone — kings, conquerors and tourists — must bow their head to enter the birthplace of Christ.

One of the oldest continuously functioning Christian churches in the world, the Church of the Nativity is built like a citadel over the cave cited by tradition as the birthplace of Jesus. The low entrance doorway (lowered in medieval times to prevent horsemen riding in) forces all visitors to bow as they enter.